Scholars Crossing Bible Doctrines Center for Global Ministries 2009 Eschatology -- Rapture Don Fanning Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgm_bib_doc Recommended Citation Fanning, Don, "Eschatology -- Rapture" (2009). Bible Doctrines. 11. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgm_bib_doc/11 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Global Ministries at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bible Doctrines by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Rapture of the Church A study to put life into perspective Coming Events Return Rise of Antichrist Rule of Antichrist Of Christ Rapture 3 1/2 years 3 1/2 years Events of the first half Events of the 2nd part Following events: 1. Antichrist gain power in the Roman 1. The “Great Tribulation” begins 1. 75 days of Daniel Preliminary Confederation in a peaceful 2. Antichrist reigns with the support 12:12 Events conquest of the Western Federation 2. Gathering of Israel 1. Return of 2. Unbelieving Israel returns to the 3. False prophet supports the 3. Conversion of Israel Jews to land Antichrist worshipped by the 4. Judgment of living Israel 3. Israel is protected under the nations and unbelieving Israel Israel 2. Removal of authority of the Antichrist 4. Jerusalem taken over by Gentiles 5. Judgment of living protection 4. Temple and sacrifices are 5. 144,000 Continue the preaching, Gentiles 3. Technology reconstituted but become martyrs 6. Satan tied in the abyss advances 5. The World Church dominates 6. Mark of the beast obligated to show 7. OT saints resurrected 4. World religions loyalty to the Antichrist 8. Tribulation saints opinion 6. War, starvation and death (2nd –4th 7. Multitudes are converted and resurrected against Jews seals), martyred 9. Daniel 9:24 fulfilled 5. Global 7. World evangelism and martyrs 8. Israel persecuted by Antichrist 10. Supper of the Lamb plague through preaching of 144.000 (5th 9. Judgment of the trumpets and cups 11. Christ reigns on earth potential seal) poured out 8. Calamities and convulsions of the 10. Blasphemy increases earth with fear of wrath (6th seal) Events at the Beginning Events in the Middle Concluding Events 1. Antichrist appears as the small 1. Satan thrown from heaven and takes 1. Commercial Babylonia destroyed horn and the man of sin possession of the Antichrist 2. Kings of the North and East invade 2. Antichrist makes a covenant 2. Russia and Egypt invade Israel Israel with Israel 3. Russia destroyed by God 3. Jerusalem is destroyed with 66% 3. 144,000 are saved and sealed 4. Antichrist enters Palestine and defeats killed 4. Two witnesses begin their Egypt, Libya y Ethiopia 4. Christ returns with the army of ministry 5. Antichrist breaks the covenant with saints Israel, ends the sacrifices in Temple 5. Jews flee from Jerusalem 6. Antichrist destroys Ecumenical Church 6. Armies of the world meet in 7. The Image of the Antichrist is raised for Armageddon against Christ worship 7. Destruction of the armies 8. Two witnesses are killed 8. The Beast and False Prophet 9. Israel dispersed due to hatred of thrown into the Lake of Fire Satan/Antichrist Two Passages about the Rapture • NET 1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– 52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. • NET 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. 15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. False Perspectives concerning the Rapture • It is the same as the Second Coming (Rev 19:11-16) • Includes only the “spiritual”, and leaves behind the “carnal” (1 Cor 15:51) • Does not occur until the middle of the Tribulation (Rev 3:10) • Will not occur until the end of the Tribulation (1 Thes 5:9) There is no reference to the Church in Rev 4-19 Two “types” of the Raptuer • Enoch — “he disappeared because God took him away” (NETGen 5:24) • Lot — was taken from Sodoma before the judgment of “brimstone and fire” (Gen 19:22-24) The Challenge of the Rapture • We should attend the congregational meetings of the church/believers NET Hebrews 10:25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near. • The Lord’s Supper announces the Rapture NET 1 Corinthians 11:26 For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. • We should love one another because of His Coming NET 1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, 13 so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. • We should be patient and persevering NET James 5:8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord's return is near. The Challenge of the Rapture • We should live a separated lifestyle NET Titus 2:12-13 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, :13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; • We should resist judging/criticizing others NET 1 Corinthians 4:5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God. • We should faithfully preach the gospel to lost NET 1 Peter 5:2-4 Give a shepherd's care to God's flock among you, …3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away • We should win souls NET Jude 1:21 maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh..